WPD still seeking hit and run driver

Bryan Benham continues to improve from major injuries suffered in the failure to stop and give information crash that occurred in Willis on June 24.

Police continue to look for the driver who caused the crash and kept going, but they need more information. Only two witnesses stopped, with vague information. Investigators are certain there were more since the crash occurred at a high traffic time.

Anyone with information about the motorcycle crash on Wednesday, and particularly the red pickup, is asked to contact the Willis Police Department at (936)856-4039.

Original story:

Pickup fled, left motorcyclist critically injured by side of road

By Jamie Nash

June 26, 2009

NORTH MONTGOMERY COUNTY- Willis Police hope someone will come forward with information about the county’s latest major accident involving an at-fault driver who fled the scene. They say a pickup forced a motorcycle off of the interstate, critically injuring its 20-year-old driver. The truck kept going, and as of Friday morning, has not been located.

Bryan Vincent Benham, 20, remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition with multiple traumatic injuries. Benham is a student at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville and a 2007 graduate of Willis High School.

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Officers were dispatched to the 12800 block of Interstate 45 South main lanes at 6:12 p.m. on Wednesday, according to WPD Sgt. King. Witnesses told them a red Ford single cab pickup was in the left lane and began merging into the right lane toward Benham’s motorcycle, forcing him off of the road.

Benham laid down bike and became separated from it. The bike traveled 420 feet before stopping and Benham traveled 300 feet before he came to rest beneath a highway sign, King said.

Despite heavy traffic, only two witnesses stopped, and they had little information regarding the other vehicle.

King said they described the pickup as a red single-cab Ford. There were conflicting reports as to whether the truck made contact with the motorcycle, so it may or may not have damage. If the red Ford truck was damaged, King said that damage would be on the passenger side, cab area.

The crash location was about 500 yards north of FM 1097, between that road and Longstreet.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is still searching for a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run collision near Cut-and-Shoot that killed a 60-year-old Cleveland man on Father’s Day.

Anyone with information about the motorcycle crash on Wednesday, and particularly the red pickup, is asked to contact the Willis Police Department at (936)856-4039.